Pirouette exerciser



PIROUETTE EXERCISER Filed April 15, 1955 53 37 v INVENTOR 520 J Lalo/vale BY was y? 7 5 ATTORNEY United States a e-n PIROUETTE EXERCISER Fred J. La Londe, Virginia, Minn. Application April 15, 1955, Serial No. 501,519 g 1 Claim. (Cl. 272-57) This invention relates to a foot propelled play toy whirler trainer and exerciser-which teaches proper balance in pirouetting. More particularly the invention relates to the concept of a foot propelled play toy for the amusement and exercise of children which also teaches them poise and artistic balance in learning to twirl, whirl and pirouette in dancing or on skates. v

Broadly mechanical revolving platforms are well known for turning objects on display however these instrumentalities are far from being conceived of as a play toy and are by no means thought of as foot propelled toys upon which children can learnthe very intricate art of proper balance in twirling and whirling about while balanced on the ball or toes of one foot.

Accordingly it is an object of this invention to provide a foot pushed whirler toy for teaching children the art of balance on the ball or toes of one foot.

Another object is to provide a pusher toy whirler for amusement and exercise in the practice of balancing on one foot. I

An additional object is to provide a foot pushed whirling toy for standing with one foot thereon, with or without skates being attached thereto, for placement wherever desired to afford entertainment, amusement, training, and exercise.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective of the foot whirler toy disclosed herein;

Fig. 2 is a cross-section view of the whirler in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a modification of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is another modification of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the foot whirler toy shown in Fig. 4.

With reference to the figures, like parts will be similarly indicated or as indicated with prime numerals.

In describing the toy structure embodied in this disclosure it will be understood that the device embodies a floor or ground rest base section A or A, a top pivotal foot and toe rest section B or B whichis of a critically small diameter size to fit the single half shoe sole under the ball portidn of the foot, a skate blade or a roller skate, and a central pivotal section C or C.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the base is a circular cone shaped wood block provided with a center circular shoulder 11 within which is bored a hole 12. The bottom surface of the base 10 is provided with an antifriction cover of felt or rubber 10' cemented or otherwise fastened thereto by conventional means as screws or the like. A center pin 13 is wedged into the hole 12, to extend above base 10, and a ring bearing or washer 14 placed over the pin 13 to ride on shoulder 11. Seated over the pin 13, on a weight load carrying roller bearing or washer 14, is pivotal wood foot block 15 for the ball of the foot and of the approximate size of an average shoe foresole in area of surface. The bottom surface of toy shown 2.8%.492 Patented May 20, 1953 foot block 15 has a shoulder 16 which rides on the washer 14 and a bored centered hole 17 within which the upstanding portion of pin 13 snugly fits with sufiicient freedom to turn and whirl when the ball of one foot is placed on the anti-friction pad 18, and the other foot is used to push or start the pivoting of block 15. The pad 18 is of felt or rubber and cemented or otherwise fastened to the top of block 15.

A set screw 19 is turned through the shoulder 14, to fit into a holding groove 20 extending about pin 13. The internal end of screw 19 is adapted to slide in the groove 20 as the block 15 is turned. With the set pin 13 wedged into block 10 and the inner end of screw 19 is groove 20, as described, the block 15 and block 10 are secured together in operative and inseparable relation. The structure provided in this embodiment is a plain and simple arrangement, economical to produce and of the preferred character over the other modified forms as hereinafter described.

In the modified structure shown in Figure 3, the base A is a rounded block of wood, metal or resinous material 21 provided at its lower surface with an antifriction pad of felt or rubber 21' cemented or otherwise attached thereto by screws of a conventional character. The outer periphery 22 is frusto-conical with a fiat top 23 provided with a raised center shoulder 24. Centrally of the shoulder 24 the block 21 is hollowed out to provide a depression 25 within which is wedged the metal base or supporting member 26 supporting an upstanding peg or pin 27. In this embodiment the base 26 is wedged or otherwise relatively permanently secured in the depression 25. A roller hearing or ring washer 28 is positioned about the pin 27 over base 26 and which supports the weight load. The frusto-conical block 29 likewise provides a top surface of a size to fit the sole portion under the ball area of one foot, and in its undersurt'ace, has shoulder 31), with a depression 31 within which is wedged a metal bearing ring or block 32. A socket 33 receives the upstanding end of pin 27 which is secured therein by the set screw 19' being turned into a locking groove 20' in pin 27. Thereby the blocks 21 and 29 are fastened together with the bearing ring 28 being mounted between the pin supporting rings 26 and 32. With the ball of one foot or toe on pad 18 block 29 is turned or pushed around by the other foot with sufiicient force to cause a whirling or twirling of the body balanced on the ball of the one foot or toe.

In general from the above descriptions it will he recognized that another modification of an all metal or plastic toy structure for training and exercise in balancing on one foot can be produced by an all metal base 10 having an integral pin 13 with .a roller bearing or washer 14, and the pivoted top block 15 secured thereon in the manner as described.

In the modification shown in Figures 4 and 5 there is provided a metal, plastic or wood block base 35 having on its upper surface a raised central shoulder 36 within which is formed a hollow or depression 37. A bearing ring 38 is wedged into the depression 37 and has a central opening 39. The base of block 35 is provided with the anti-friction pad 35' cemented thereto or otherwise se-' cured by conventional screws 40.

In this instance the block 41 is provided with a depression 37 into which a plate 42 is secured by screws 43. The plate 42 is integral with, brazed or wedged onto the pivot pin 44 which is provided with a base 45 seated to turn within the opening 39 in ring 38. A holding groove 46 in the head 45 is provided to receive the holding screw 47 extending through shoulder 36 and ring 38. A ball bearing ring 49 is mounted about the pin 44 and supports the weight of block 41 on ring 38. This bearing ring 49 is of conventional character and may a be of a diameter size to slide over the base 45. As illustrated, the pivotal turning block 41 is provided with a central angular cut 50 into which the toe end of an ice or roller skate can be placed for training in balance on the toes of one foot. The wide portion of cut 50- holds the front wheels of a skate upon which the twirler' is mounted and the slots 51 guide and hold the toe of the blade of an ice skate, in balance on the pivot block 41 over pin 44. In case it is desired to first learn-balanc;

ing on the whole of the single skate foot, a groove or slot 52 extending the length of the block 38 serves as a guide and support. For roller skates the curved hollowed out sides 53 hold the front and back wheels with the center or arch of the foot balanced over the pivot pin 44.

An illustrative example of an approximate size of the preferred toy structure is that it standsabout 3 inches high and provides a pivot block surface for the halfsole under the ball of a foot of about 4% inches in diameter with the base support block about-6V4 inches at its widest point. This dimension is about average for the normal halfsole under the ball of a foot and also fits the average skate size when placed thereon, as described.

By these arrangements healthful exercise, training and balance are obtained. The toy may be used with either foot by placing the one foot on the toy pivot block and pushing off with the other. In actual operation in a play arealonglines of children form to take their turn whirling about on one foot. After some practice they become quite expert in learning to turn and pivot. In addition it has been foundthat practice and exercise on this toy has orthopedic value.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of. construction and operation of my foot propelled pirouette toy, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

An exercising device comprising a frusto-conical circular base member having a large diameter bottom surface and a smaller diameter upper surface, an axial socket in the upper surface of said base member, a metal cylindrical supporting member secured in said socket and held from rotation relative to said base member, a pin projecting upwardly from said supporting member coaxial with said supporting member and secured from rotation relative thereto, said supporting member being of larger diameter than said pin and extending above the level of the upper surface of said base member, a bearing member encircling said pin and overlyingsaid supporting member for support thereby, an annular groove in said pin above the level of said bearing member, a frusto-conical pivot block having a large diameter bottom surface and a smaller diameter upper surface, the under surface of pivot block being substantially equal in diameter to the upper surface of said base member, an axial socket in the under surface of said pivot block, a metal bearing block supported in said last named socket and secured from rotation relative to said pivot block. said bearing block projecting below the level of the under surface of said pivot block, an axial socket in the under surface of said bearing block of a diameter to rotatably support the upper end of said pin, and a set screw supported for radial movement in the lower portion of said bearing block extending into said groove in said pin, said set screw holding said pivot block from separation from said base member while permitting relative rotation therebetween References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 735-,319 Urwick Aug. 4, 1903 2,256,001 Titus Sept. 16, 1941 2,311,274 Whitney Feb. 1.6, 1943 2,351,293 Saunders June 13, 1944 2,714,007 Jordan July 26, 1955 

